Belleville City Council honors Mary Talaga’s 57 years as school crossing guard

The Belleville City Council chambers were filled with well-wishers and family members on Monday when the council honored Mary Talaga with a plaque and other awards.
Talaga has retired as an elementary school crossing guard after 57 years of service at the corner of East Huron River Drive and Edgemont Avenue.
Mayor Kerreen Conley presented her with a plaque and read a prepared statement on Talaga’s work as a crossing guard.
“We know you love the children,” Mayor Conley said, speaking of the hugs for children and parents. “Life was a little brighter when you were on the corner,” she said, noting she knew how to make the children behave.
Conley said she calculated the number of times Talaga walked across that intersection with children over the 57 years and she calculated it was 40,000 times.
Then, Gary Bubar, Public Affairs Specialist III for AAA Michigan, got up to give his awards to her. He said no one in the State of Michigan has been a crossing guard as long as she was since they started training guards in the 1960s.
Bubar presented her with a certificate, a pin, a $100 gift card, and a roadside assistance kit.
Members of the council also thanked Talaga for her service, with Councilman Jesse Marcotte calling Talaga a “true living legend and pillar of our community.”
Police Chief Hal Berriman said the police department appreciates all the work Talaga has done and they have another award for her in the works, so she will have to come back for that, too.
Chief Berriman said Talaga and her husband Tony were close friends of his from the time he first came on as police chief and then when he came back. He said Talaga has “always been a delight” to encounter.
“She is near and dear to the fire department,” said Fire Chief Brian Loranger. “Tony was chief when I joined the fire department. I’ve known her for over 30 years.”
Talaga was asked to point out her family in the audience and she did, naming them one by one. She also had her picture taken in the hall with the fire department officers present.
Another celebration of Talaga’s retirement will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 11575 Belleville Road. The public is invited and, Talaga said, “I hope you’ll all come.”
In other business at Monday’s meeting, the council:
• Set the annual citywide yard sale dates as Sept. 7 and 8. On these dates, residents do not need a permit to hold a sale;
• Heard a presentation on the FY 2017/18 audit by James Wilde, principal of Alan C. Young & Associates. He said the audit showed the city had “absolutely clean processes and procedures” and the auditors gave the city an “unmodified opinion,” which is the highest it can give. Wilde said the city showed a small amount of growth and put $79,564 more into the fund balance, which was $1,384,812 on June 30, 2018. He said the city’s liabilities of $4.2 million for pensions and $2.5 million for health care don’t have to be paid now, but the council is challenged to look at this and form a long-term plan;
• Approved accounts payable of $390,862.40 and the following purchases in excess of $500: to Blue Ribbon, $9,785 for sewer break and backup repair near 122 North Liberty and $2,070 for water tap repair on Liberty; to Glinda Goucher of Tecumseh, $3,375 for purchase of five grave plots at $675 each; and to Metro Environmental, $995 for vactor service for sewer cleanout at 122 N. Liberty; and
• Went into closed-door session to discuss the status and strategy of pending union negotiations and then went back into regular session only to adjourn.
Absent from the council meeting was Councilman Tom Smith.